Radiator crank box



Sept. 13, 1932.

A. F. IHDE RADIATOR CRANK BOX Filed Feb. 28, 1931 Patented Sept. 13, 1932 via-ire ,sr

AUGUST IFJIHDE, OF BUFFALO, YORK, ASSIGNOR TO FEDDERS ,MANUEACTURING COMPANY, INC;, OF BUFFALQ'NEwrYoB K g 7 RADIATOR CRANK Box Applicationfiled February 28, 1931. Serial 110. 519,141;

T hisinvention relates to radiators and par ticularly to an improvement in the radiator forming a part of the Cooling system of the internal combustion engine of a motor ve-.

hicle. f j Such radiators are usually, according to conventional practice, mounted in front of the vehicle engine and comprise upper and lower tanks or headers, for distributingand receivingethe engine cooling medium, and a plurality'of fluid passageways extending between the tanks-vforconducting the cooling medium inclose proximity to cooling air *whichmay circulate about the fluid passageways. Heretofore, the radiator usually has been mounted above the center line of the engine crank whereit will not interefere with the engine starting crank when the latter -is engaged with the crank shaft. Recently, it :has becomedesirable, in order to lower the vehicle bodies-and to enable anincrease in the size and capacity of'radiators, to mount the radiator in such position that the axis of the;crank shaft extended will pass through the cooling portion of the radiatonf- In order to permit of this, ,it'has becomenecessary to providea'n opening throughflthe radiator unit for ,IGCGIVlII a startin crank.

r u b 4 i n I Incertam radiator constructions, such as those inwhich the-water cooling passageways comprise a plurality of juxtaposed deformed metal ribbons of generally corrugated form, which together form a plurality oftortuous, substantially vertical water passages extending between the tanks, and horizontal air passages extending between the front, and 'rear faces of the radiator, it has been difficult to provide such, a crank; opening,;since means'must be provided to afford passage of.

water through the passages interrupted by the crank opening, and since it is difficult to securely attach or join such means to] the deformed metal ribbons, which usually are .of very light gauge.

The present invention comprehends a crank box,' of structural formation adapting it for ready securement to a radiator cooling unit of the ribbon or other type, which may be secured to a water tank of the radiator. to- ,gether with and as apart of thecooling unit in the same manner as such cooling units are ordinarily attached to the water tanks,--and insuch manner thatthe water tank may coact with the cooling unit in supporting the crank box. j

These and other objects and advantages 'will become apparent fromthefollowihg dew scription of one typical embodiment of the j invention, reference being made to the accompanying drawing, wherein Fig. '1 isa front elevational view of radiator including upper and lower Water tanks, a cooling unit, 'andthe crank box;

Fig: 2 is-a vertical sectional-view through the portion of-the radiatorv havingthe' crank box, in a plane'between the front and rear faces of the radiator;

Fig, 3 is a vertical sectional view ofithe portion of the radiatorshown in Fig. 2, being taken along'line 83 of Fig. 2; and Fig.4, is an enlarged perspective view of one plate member which forms a part of the crank box.

As depicted in Fig. 1, thewater cooling unitor radiator may comprise an upper-reservoir or tank 10 whlchwmaybe in communication withaan'upper part of a water jacket of an internal combustion engine and alower tank or collectingheader 11 in communicatank and be returned to ,the. engine water j acket.

In theparticular form of cooling unitillus- 1 'trated, the water cooling passages are formed by juxtaposed strips orribbons 13 of gener ally corrugated form,adjacentribbons-being tortuous water passage 16, which extends sealedalongthe front-and;rear;faces-14: and V 15, seen in Fig. 3, of the radiator. Between each pairof adjacent ribbons isprovideda 3i; lower tank, the crankbox 19 has been joined between and communicates withthe upper and lower tanks.

As shown in'Fig. 2, other rlbbons 17 or the like, of corrugated or other form may be disposed between each pair of ribbons 13 for increasing the cooling surface of the unit 12. The fins 13 and 17 or the fins 13, if the fins 17 are omitted, provide substantially horizontal air cells 18 which extend between the faces 14 and 15' of the unit and which may serve to pass cooling air through the unit upon forward movement of thevehicle or by the action of an" air fan or impeller disposed adjacent one fa'ce of the radiator or both.

In the radiator shown in Fig. 1,a crank o enin has been formed throu h 'coolin p b D g unit12 above the bottom tank 11. Thishas been effected byt'erminating certain of the 7 ribbons short of thebottom tank and by insertinga crank box in the space thus provided. It will be noted that the ribbons 13 on both sides of the opening provided by the shortened ribbons present an irregular or corrugated surface "and that the passages 16 formed by the shortened ribbons do not communicate with any of the otherpassages 16 formed between the longer ribbons 13. In

order to efliciently provide for water circulation-through all of the passages'to the to the cooling unit. It comprises a pair of flanged plates21, oneof which is depicted in Fig. afand each of which may have an inwardly extending annular flange 22, defining an aperture 23. I A tubular member 24 y is joined in telescoped relation with the annular flanges for forming with the plates the crank box unit and for providing a crank opening through the radiator in alignment with the engine crank shaft. 7

As best shown in Fig: 3, the peripheral "flange about each platehas upper and lower portions 25 and 26 respectively which present substantially flat surfacesof considerable area for engagement with the ends of the shortened ribbons 13 and flanges 27 which preferably are formed on the lower water tank 11. The side or edge portions 28 of the peripheral. flanges are of corrugated or like contour to complement the irregular faces provided by the adj acent longer ribbons 13. The portions 28 provide a large area of con tact between theplates and ribbons 13 insuring a sturdy and water tight construction.

In building up radiators having such crank boxes it has been found to be a material aid to, form the plate side flanges of con v 'tour to interfit with the ribbons, since the C0 crank boxes maybe readily positioned, and during the soldering operation, which is the preferred means of joining the radiator parts, there is less tendency for excess solder to enter the box interior than when straight or plane side flanges are used. Such excess .whereas with plane flanges a larger quantity ;of solderis required to fill the substantiall triangular crevices between the'plate and ribbons, such larger portions ofsolder being more likely to break away when the radiator is in use to cause leakage of the radiator.

It has alsobeen found that, when the out- 1 er faces of the plates are disposed in the plane of the radiator faces 14: and 15, a large quantity of solder may adhere to the platev faces which may laterv break away together with solder between'the plates andrribbons.

In theillustrated' construction it'will be seen 1 that the peripheral flange portions 24, 25 and 28 extend outwardly, so that the faces ,of the plates are disposed inwardly of the radiator. faces 14 and 15. In this manneronly the outer edges of the flange portions are exposed to solderduring the soldering operation, so that a saving of soldering material and a. more durable j oinder ofthe parts is effected.

In certain vehicle constructions, the radiator shell which covers the radiator may be provided with an extension having a crank opening, which overlies the crankbox to con ceal it from view. As it IS deslrable to keep I theradiusof such shell extension at a minimum, the plates of the crank boxmayhave cut-away. upper corners as shown in Figs. 2-

and 4'. These cut-away portions present flat surfaces 29 for abutting contact with certain ofthe shortened ribbons 13. In order to provide-a close fit with the cooling unit,v

the surfaces'29 may be joined to the upper 7 flange surface '24 by diagonal surfaces 31 which abut diagonal faces of the, fins 13. The angular surfaces thus presented at the sides and also the angular surfacespresenttitude of soldered connections'b'etween the ribbons and the crank box in a plurality of different planes, thus preventing rupture-of any substantial number of these connections due to shearing action in the event the radi ator structure should be subjected to a blow 110. ed at the top of the crank box provide a mulor movement in one plane, and providing a substantially-rigid support and locking structure extending into the radiator structure proper on the three sides of the crank box.

In constructing a radiator according to the present invention, it'is preferred to assemble the ribbons 13, 13 or 13', 17 in anfa's- 'sembling frame, together with a pre-asse1n i bled crank box,'including two plates 21 and,

" a connecting tube 24:. ,After assembly the I faces of the unit may be solderedflthe adjacent fins 13-being sealed along their edges to provide closed passages 16, the "plate flange portions being sealed to the adjacent long ribbons 13, and the plate top flange portions shortened fins 13, which preferably have flattened abutment surfaces 32.

After the cooling unit including the ribbons and crank box has been formed, it may be joined to the upper and lower water tanks by soldering. The lower plate flange portions 25 present a large surface of contact to the bottom tank flanges 27 to effect a substantial and durable connection, causing the plates 21 to reinforce the joint between the cooling ribbons and the lower tank.

It will now be appreciated that the invention provides a simple, economical means of forming a crank opening through the cooling portion of a radiator, in which a crank box, having peripherally flanged plates, with the flanges preferably out-turned, serves to reinforce the radiator assembly; the formation of the plates insures a water tight joinder of the box with the cooling unit with a minimum of solder or other sealing material, with an attendant lessening of the probability of the sealing material entering into the interior of the box to interfere with the flow of water thereinto from the water cooling passageways; the crank box provides unrestricted passage for water flowing from the tubes, Which are interrupted by the crank opening, into the lower tank; the cooling unit, with the crank box as a part thereof may be attached to the upper and lower tanks in the usual manner by which cooling unlts and tanks are joined.

It will further be understood that the described embodiment is merely illustrative of the principles of the invention, which may be applied to other constructions, and it is accordingly intended that the invention be construed to be of scopecommensurate with the appended claims.

'What is claimed is: w

1. In a radiator of the corrugated ribbon type having water passageways between the ribbons, certain of the ribbons and water passageways terminating short of the other ribbons and passageways thereof to provide a space bounded by the irregular surfaces of certain of the said other ribobns and by the ends of the shortened ribbons, a pair of plates bounding said space alongthe front and rear faces of the radiator, each of said plates "ends i of "said :Lother aribbo'n's and; presenting unbrokensurfaces-gfor abutment with the being sealed to the bottom portions of the ends of said other ribbonsand thelower;portions of theperiphral flanges ofsaid: plates,

plates to provide a j passageway between the type having wateri passageways 'betweent the ribbons, certain of "the-"ribbons and water passageways terminating short of the other e ribbons and passageways thereof, a tank ex tending along the ends of saidlast-namedggg other ribbons lying adjacent the shortened;

ribbons and the ends of the shortened ribbons shortened=wateripassageways and-the tank. 2. :Inia radiator 'of -the corrugttdribbon;

and the plane portion of the tank defining a space through the radiator, an apertured plate disposed along each face of the radiator to close said space, and a tubular member in alignment with the apertures of said plates and extending between saidplates, each of.

the latter having a peripheral flange, portions of said flanges presenting plane surfaces for contact with the ends of said shortened ribbons and water passageways,other portions of said flanges presenting irregular surfaces for interfitting contact with the irregular sides of the other ribbons lying adjacent the shortened ribbons, and other portions of *5 said flanges presenting plane surfaces for contact with the plane portions of said tank.

3. Ina radiator of the type having tortuous water passages formed by juxtaposed elements, the first of the passages extending between opposite sides of the radiator, and

the second of the passages terminating short of one side of the radiator, a tank disposed along one of said sides of the radiator and in communication with the first of said pas-j the radiator, said elements adjacent said space defining irregular walls along said space, a crank'box disposed in said space, said crank box comprising a pair of plates and a connecting tube defining an opening through the radiator, each of said plates having a:

continuous flange, portions. of the flanges abutting the end portions of the elements defining the second of said passages, other portions of the flanges being irregular for contacting interfittingly with the irregular walls along said space, and said plates being joined to said tank.

4 L. A crank box for radiators comprising a pair of plates each having a peripheral .flange extending outwardly to a face of the radiz ai or, ahdeach of said platshaving an annular flange vdefining an opening therethrough, and a tubular member telescopedto said annular flanges and joining said plates, the 11 per andlower portions of the peripheral anges presenting surfaces adapted for continuous contact with portions of a cooling unit of the radiator and'a Water tank of P the radiator, and the side portions of the peripher al flanges presenting irregular; sur

; faces for Contact with irregular surfaces of portions: of the (iooling unit of the radiator.

AUGUST F. IHDE. 

